Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with some positive news and will acknowledge the role this House has played. The 116000 missing children hotline now is operational and I believe this House played a strong role in this regard. If Members recall, they came together as a House in October 2011 for what I believe to have been an excellent debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Moreover, Members, including Senators Quinn and Daly and many others, have continued to push to have this hotline in operation. While it now is in operation, unfortunately it only is doing so for 18 hours a day until March 2013, after which the ISPCC will be able to operate it for 24 hours per day. Ireland now is the 20th country in the European Union to have this hotline in place.

I encourage all Members to participate actively in the debate on the Private Members' motion that is being put forward by my Independent group on the value of youth work. All Members will have received a copy of the report and quite a number of youth organisations intend to come in to hear the debate. Members need only look around the areas in which they live to be able to see youth work in action. I hope all Members will participate actively in this debate.

On the Order of Business, I have a concern that Members are taking Committee and Remaining Stages of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill today. Members will recall that when they debated Second Stage on 27 November last, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, unfortunately was not available. Three Ministers of State attended that debate and I raised a number of questions that I do not consider to have been addressed. I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is very good about coming into this House. However, I have tabled an amendment and I am concerned that Members are trying to take Committee and Remaining Stages together today. I am expressing that concern now and I will see how my amendment is treated at the time before deciding on whether to proceed any further.